Quick answer: Utah regulates construction trades statewide through the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) under the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Code). Nearly every building trade needs a DOPL license: general building (B100), general engineering (E100) and residential/small commercial (R100) contractors, plus specialty trades such as plumbing (P200), electrical (E200), HVAC/mechanical (S350), roofing (S280), painting (S270), carpentry (S220) and landscaping (S330). The main exception is the handyman exemption: building work valued at less than $7,000 (labor and materials combined) needs no contractor license – though a one-time affirmation of insurance must be filed with DOPL once a project exceeds $3,000. Housecleaning is not a construction trade and needs no DOPL license.
The table below shows which of the common trades need a Utah state license and which do not.
Which trades need a license in Utah?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | State license required – DOPL General Plumbing Contractor (P200), which requires a licensed Master Plumber; a narrower Residential Plumbing Contractor (P201) also exists. Individual plumbers hold apprentice, journeyman or master plumber licenses. Title 58, Ch. 55. |
| Electrician | Yes | State license required – DOPL General Electrical Contractor (E200), which requires a licensed Master Electrician; Residential Electrical Contractor (E201) is a narrower option. Individual electricians hold apprentice, journeyman or master electrician licenses. |
| HVAC | Yes | State license required – DOPL HVAC Contractor (S350), a specialty (S) classification under the Construction Trades Licensing Act. Radon mitigation (S354) falls under the same family. |
| General Contractor | Yes | State license required – DOPL General Building Contractor (B100), General Engineering Contractor (E100) or Residential/Small Commercial Contractor (R100), depending on project type and size. |
| Roofer | Yes | State license required – DOPL Roofing Contractor (S280), a specialty (S) classification. (S330 is the Landscape classification, not roofing.) |
| Painter | Yes | License required to work as a contractor – DOPL Drywall, Paint and Plastering Contractor (S270). Small paint jobs under the $7,000 handyman-exemption threshold do not require a license. |
| Carpenter | Yes | License required to work as a contractor – DOPL Carpentry and Flooring Contractor (S220). Finish-carpentry jobs under the $7,000 handyman-exemption threshold are exempt. |
| Landscaper | Yes | License required to work as a contractor – DOPL Landscape and Recreation Contractor (S330), which also covers irrigation, fencing and pools. Jobs under the $7,000 handyman-exemption threshold are exempt. |
| Handyman | No | No license for building work valued at less than $7,000 (labor plus materials). Projects over $3,000 require a one-time DOPL handyman affirmation of insurance. The exemption never covers electrical, plumbing, HVAC or alarm work reserved to licensed trades. |
| Cleaner | No | No DOPL license required. Residential or commercial cleaning is not a construction trade under Title 58, Ch. 55. |
"Yes" means a DOPL contractor license is normally required to perform that trade as a business in Utah. Even licensed trades may skip licensure for small jobs under the $7,000 handyman exemption, and all contractors must carry insurance and pull local building permits where required.
How Utah licenses construction trades
Utah regulates construction trades almost entirely at the state level through the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), a division of the Utah Department of Commerce. DOPL administers the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Code) and its implementing rule (R156-55a).
Unlike states that leave many home-service trades unlicensed, Utah licenses a broad range of building work. Licenses fall into two groups: general classifications – General Engineering (E100), General Building (B100) and Residential/Small Commercial (R100) – and dozens of specialty (S) classifications covering trades such as roofing, painting, carpentry, landscaping and HVAC. Plumbing (P) and electrical (E) contractors have their own classifications and must employ a master tradesperson. The most important gap in this system is the handyman exemption for small jobs, described below.
General contractor classifications: B100, E100 and R100
Utah’s general contractor licenses are the B100 General Building Contractor, the E100 General Engineering Contractor and the R100 Residential/Small Commercial Contractor (limited to structures up to about 20,000 sq ft and three stories). A related R101 covers non-structural residential remodel and repair.
To qualify for a general license, DOPL generally requires at least two years (4,000 hours) of paid construction experience, completion of a pre-licensure course (a 25-hour trade course plus a 5-hour Business & Law course), and passing the applicable examination. A B100 general builder may hire licensed master or journeyman electricians and plumbers to perform that work on single-family and small multi-family homes.
Specialty trade licenses: plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and more
Most individual trades map to a DOPL classification code. Plumbing is the General Plumbing Contractor (P200, requiring a Master Plumber) and electrical is the General Electrical Contractor (E200, requiring a Master Electrician). Key specialty (S) classifications include HVAC (S350), Roofing (S280), Drywall, Paint and Plastering (S270), Carpentry and Flooring (S220) and Landscape and Recreation (S330).
This means painting, carpentry and landscaping – trades that are unlicensed in many other states – require a DOPL contractor license in Utah when performed as a business above the handyman threshold. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical and alarm work are the most tightly controlled and can never be done under the handyman exemption.
The handyman exemption and the $7,000 threshold
Utah’s key exemption is defined in Utah Code § 58-55-305. A person performing the alteration, repair, remodeling, addition or improvement of a building with a contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, including both labor and materials and all changes to the work, does not need a contractor license.
There is a second tier: once the total value of the project is greater than $3,000, the person must file a one-time handyman affirmation with DOPL certifying they carry public liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate) and, if applicable, workers’ compensation. Work valued at $3,000 or less needs no filing at all. The exemption never authorizes work reserved to a licensed trade – electrical, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical or alarm installation – and an exempt handyman may not use titles like “contractor,” “plumber” or “electrician.”
Insurance, permits and local requirements
Every Utah contractor must carry active general liability insurance on file with DOPL (minimum $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate) and, if they have employees, workers’ compensation coverage. Businesses also register with the Utah Division of Corporations and the State Tax Commission.
State licensure does not replace local building permits. Cities and counties still require permits and inspections for many projects regardless of who performs the work, and a handyman exemption does not waive the permit requirement. Always confirm permit thresholds with your local building department before starting a job.
How to get licensed in Utah
- Identify the correct DOPL classification for your work: a general license (B100 building, E100 engineering, or R100 residential/small commercial) or a specialty code such as P200 plumbing, E200 electrical, S350 HVAC, S280 roofing, S270 paint, S220 carpentry or S330 landscape.
- Meet the qualifying experience and education: generally two years (4,000 hours) of construction experience, plus the required 25-hour pre-licensure course and the 5-hour Business and Law course; plumbing and electrical contractor licenses require a qualifying master plumber or master electrician.
- Pass the applicable DOPL examination(s) for your classification, including the business and law content.
- Obtain general liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence / $3,000,000 aggregate) and, if you have employees, workers' compensation, and register your business with the Utah Division of Corporations and State Tax Commission.
- Submit your application and fees to DOPL through its online portal, then keep the license active by renewing on DOPL's cycle and meeting continuing education requirements. For small jobs, file a handyman affirmation instead if the project value is between $3,000 and $7,000.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a handyman need a license in Utah?
Not for small jobs. Under Utah Code § 58-55-305, building work valued at less than $7,000 (labor and materials combined) does not require a DOPL contractor license. However, once a project exceeds $3,000 the handyman must file a one-time affirmation with DOPL certifying they carry public liability insurance (and workers’ compensation if applicable). The exemption never covers electrical, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical or alarm work, which always require a licensed trade.
Do painters, carpenters and landscapers need a license in Utah?
Yes, when working as a contractor above the handyman threshold. Utah licenses these trades through DOPL specialty classifications – Drywall, Paint and Plastering (S270), Carpentry and Flooring (S220) and Landscape and Recreation (S330). This differs from many states that leave these trades unlicensed. Small jobs valued under $7,000 can be done under the handyman exemption instead.
Which DOPL classification do I need for plumbing, electrical or HVAC work?
Plumbing contractors need the General Plumbing Contractor (P200) license, which requires a licensed Master Plumber; electrical contractors need the General Electrical Contractor (E200) license, which requires a licensed Master Electrician; and HVAC contractors need the HVAC Contractor (S350) specialty classification. Individual plumbers and electricians also hold apprentice, journeyman or master licenses. None of this work qualifies for the handyman exemption.
Does a house cleaner need a license in Utah?
No. Residential and commercial cleaning is not a construction trade under the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Title 58, Chapter 55), so DOPL does not license it. Cleaning businesses may still need a local business license and appropriate insurance, but no state contractor license is required.
Sources: Utah DOPL – Specialty Contractor License, Utah DOPL – Handyman Exemption, Utah DOPL – Handyman Laws and Rules, Utah DOPL – Contractor Trade Classification Chart (PDF), Utah DOPL – Handyman Affirmation of Exemption Application (PDF), Utah Code § 58-55-305 – Exemptions from licensure, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.